I wasn't proposing that the '86 be admitted as a main match rifle. Since the '92 is virtually a reduced in size '86 and accepted as a main match rifle, it only makes sense to admit the '86 into the corral.
However, it is eminently suitable as a long range lever gun. I was the only one shooting a 45-70 in a long range lever gun match at a recent SASS event I attended. The rest were shooting 'small bores' - 30-30's, etc.
For that matter, I was the only shooter using BP in the single shot long range event. The rest were burning 4198, 5744, etc., and some were using GC bullets.
Shoot "Cowboy" or go home ......